In this page we present some of the physiological neuromuscular foundations for the treatment of temporomandibular joint pathologies, it was also presented the importance of differential diagnosis and also the use of bioinstrumentation as surface electromyography and computerized kinesiography.

Images of patients related to their symptoms were also presented. Several etiological factors such as trauma in early childhood, especially green stick fracture, recapture of the intra-articular discs in reducible displacements, and interrelation between craniomandibular disorders and the vertebral column.

When we talk about the treatment of TMJ pathologies we have to understand that there are different approaches. The proposal for a palliative treatment is the symptomatic treatment, that is, a treatment that seeks to block the symptoms. It is given through the administration of drugs, such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory and myo relaxing drugs. The restorative approach is the treatment that seeks when possible to correct or heal what is damaged. To know what is wrong, a differential diagnosis is necessary. This diagnosis must always be made prior to the treatment proposal.

A 19-year-old female patient presents at the clinic with complaints ofconstant headache, neck pain and swelling in the face, back of the head pain and migraines.

According to the anamnesis filled out by the patient herself, in the initial consultation she reports clicks in the jaw, dizziness, ear pain and low back pain.

The patient also reports bruxism and nighttime clenching.

The patient also refers to retro-ocular pain on the right side, pain in both shoulders, and pain in the TMJ (right temporomandibular joint).

The patient reports cracks in the TMJ on the right side, sensation of ear covering, strange sounds and non-specific facial pain.

The patient claims difficulty in opening the mouth and difficulty in chewing.

Summary report written by the patient

In the middle of the year 2014, I had a routine consultation at a dentist to clean my teeth and I reported cracking and pain in the jaw, she did not pay attention, she said it was normal and it would soon pass.

Since then I started with severe headaches, dizziness, ear pain, back pain, my feet (more in my heel), pain in my eye as well, and in days of painful crises, my right eye would hardly open and the right side of the my face all swollen (mumps type).

After this worsening we looked for an TMJ specialist who gave me an acrylic plate, thin and only for my upper teeth.

I used the splint for six months and after that all the symptoms worsened.

We looked for another specialist, who made the same acrylic plate for the upper teeth, but in a very different size, it was a thick plate.

In the beginning it helped, after six months, all the symptoms started to appear stronger.

We consulted a new specialist, who made a new type of appliance, with the wires and the blue acrylic on the side (I took it to show to you), it was what had helped me the most, using it for 24 hours, improved pain, even dizziness , but after a year of use everything returned and with all the pain still stronger, however during that one year of treatment, despite the improvements I could not make any kind of physical effort even not strong my jaw swelled (gym, climbing stairs, picking up weight …)

In March 2017, a year and four months of use of the appliance, the professional said it was time to start “weaning”, start leaving the device and use only to sleep because I should already be good, I commented that it had gotten worse and she insisted that it was the time to be well…

It was then that we looked for another specialist, this one said that the plate in use was not suitable for the problem and made a new plate of acrylic that judged the correct one for the presented problem, was thin and of acrylic, equal to the first one I already used, only for the upper teeth, I immediately told to my mother and to him that this plate would not solve, since I had already used identical plate in previous treatment, he insisted saying yes, that was the correct one.

With the use of the device I also did hot compresses and shocks of physiotherapy and also needles, which helped a lot in the neck muscles that hurt a lot, but this device from the beginning did not help, the headaches that felt every day were even worse, I’ve had more dizziness.

Habitual occlusion of the patient on the day of the consultation.

Upper and lower occlusal views of the patient on the day of the consultation.

Frontal radiography of the patient in habitual occlusion before treatment.

Dynamic electromyographic record of the patient in habitual occlusion.

It is important to understand that surface electromyography is an additional tool in diagnosis, and not the only determinant, is a very interesting tool to be able to control the evolution in our own patient during the course of treatment.

MRI: sagittal T1 slices of the left TMJ closed mouth before treatment. There is an anteroversion of the mandibular condyle. The mandibular heads are in retroposition.

The articular disc is displaced anteriorly, with reduction in maneuvers in open mouth.

MRI: sagittal T1 slices of the left TMJ closed mouth before treatment. There is an anteroversion of the mandibular condyle. The mandibular heads are in retroposition.

The articular disc is displaced anteriorly, with reduction in maneuvers in open mouth.

Important retrodiscal compression.

MRI: sagittal T1 slices of the right TMJ closed mouth before treatment. There is an anteroversion of the mandibular condyle. The mandibular heads are in retroposition.

The articular disc is displaced anteriorly, with reduction in maneuvers in open mouth.

Important retrodiscal compression.

MRI: sagittal T1 slices of the right TMJ closed mouth before treatment. There is an anteroversion of the mandibular condyle. The mandibular heads are in retroposition.

The articular disc is displaced anteriorly, with reduction in maneuvers in open mouth.

Important retrodiscal compression.

MRI: T1 frontal slices of right and left temporomandibular joints, closed mouth in habitual occlusion before treatment.

The frontal slice of the right and left temporomandibular joint evidences a severe loss of joint space.

Tomographic examination of temporo-mandibular joints.

Right and left sagittal slices in habitual occlusion prior to treatment.

Tomographic examination of temporo-mandibular joints.

Multiplanar reconstruction – left TMJ in habitual occlusion before treatment.

Important posteriorisation of the mandible head.

Tomographic examination of temporo-mandibular joints.

Multiplanar reconstruction – right TMJ in habitual occlusion before treatment.

Important posteriorisation of the mandible head.

When our proposal is a restorative treatment, we have a FIRST PHASE where the goal when possible is to heal the joint. Sometimes we can only improve it or prevent it from getting worse. Knowing what we can treat and what we cannot treat and the limitations of each individual case is very important.

To correctly evaluate the maxillomandibular relationship we should begin to consider the physiological position of mandibular rest.

Physiological rest is a concept applicable to all the muscles of the body.

The stomatognathic musculature is no exception.

The patient’s masticatory muscles were electronically deprogrammed and a new resting neuromuscular physiological position was recorded.

The patient has a pathological free space of 7.7 mm.

The patient also had a 0.6 mm mandibular retroposition.

Occlusion of the patient with the DIO (intraoral device)

With the record obtained with the jaw tracker an intraoral device (DIO) was made to three dimensionally reposition the mandible.

The NEUROMUSCULAR PHYSIOLOGICAL position was recorded in the form of an occlusal bite record, which was later used to make a DIO (intraoral device)

In the first phase the intraoral devices are recalibrated and / or changed according to each specific case as the jaw, muscles and TMJ improve.

Comparative frontal postural images.

The patient was derived along with TMJ pathology treatment for a physiotherapy team in the city where she resides. Along with mandibular repositioning the conditioning of all postural chains is necessary.

Each patient needs a specific derivation according to the particular case.

Dynamic electromyographic record of the patient with the DIO (intraoral device) in physiological neuromuscular occlusion.

Another cineciographic record to control the DIO (intraoral device) in a physiological neuromuscular position as the device is changed or recalibrated.

The patient did not report any more symptoms coming from TMJ (temporomandibular joint). The electromyographic and kinesiographic records objectively showed improvement of the neuromuscular function.

I asked for the second nuclear magnetic resonance to objectively evaluate the physiological relationship between the mandibular condyles and the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of left sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same left TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of left sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same left TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of left sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same left TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of left sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same left TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of right sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same right TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of right sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same right TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of right sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same right TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

MRI: Comparison of right sagittal cut T1, closed mouth, before physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same right TMJ, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

RNM: Comparison of FRONTAL SLICE T1, left TMJ, closed mouth, before the physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same left TMJ, FRONTAL SLICE T1, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

RNM: Comparison of FRONTAL SLICE T1, right TMJ, closed mouth, before the physiological neuromuscular treatment, and the same right TMJ, FRONTAL SLICE T1, closed mouth, after the FIRST PHASE of the treatment.

Recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

Comparative panoramic radiographs of the patient before starting the treatment and at the beginning of the second phase of the treatment. At this time the removal of the third molars included can also be done.

Comparative laminographies of the patient before starting the treatment and at the beginning of the second phase of the treatment. The joint decompression can be observed.

Laminographs and or COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHS, even showing decompression DO NOT SHOW the position of the articular disc. The position of the articular disc and the presence or not of osseous edema of the mandibular condyle can only be evaluated with nuclear magnetic resonance. The result or not of the recovery of the Physiological Relationship of the Jaw Head to the Articular Disc can be evaluated by comparing the MRI after the first phase and the comparison with the initial MRI.

Comparative frontal radiographs of the patient before starting the treatment and at the beginning of the second phase of the treatment.

When the first phase is completed, we verify if the subsequent control images correspond to our goals set in the initial diagnosis. We know that there are cases where we can improve the case, and others where we can prevent it from worsening, and others where we can only treat the pain.

The patient did not report any symptoms from the temporomandibular joint. The comparative MRI showed the recovery of the physiological relation of the head of the mandible with the articular disc.

The electromyographic and kinesiographic records objectively showed improvement of the neuromuscular function.

In the case of positive results from the first phase we can start a second phase of treatment to remove the device that is used permanently during the first phase of the treatment. For this we can perform a three-dimensional orthodontic, a physiological neuromuscular rehabilitation or the combination of both. Always maintaining the mandibular location in balance with the muscular planes, temporomandibular joint and dental planes.

It was decided to start the SECOND PHASE of the treatment to remove the DIO (intraoral device), maintaining the physiological neuromuscular occlusion.

A three-dimensional orthodontics needs to maintain the three-dimensional position of the mandible in balance with its bone and muscle planes achieved in the FIRST PHASE, and whenever possible maintain the Physiological Relationship of the Jaw Head with the Articular Disc.It is fundamental to understand, that this passage has to be made keeping the DIO (intraoral device, together with the different devices to be used for the dental eruption)

Patient’s statement:

After long three years of failure looking for a treatment for my problem in my city, I found Dr. Lidia in a simple Google search.

I went to her and with a proposal completely different from the others, we started the new treatment immediately.

I was in an advanced stage, where I had headache all day, pain in the ear, swollen eye (often unable to open), right side of the swollen face too (like a mumps), pain in the neck, pain in my back and also on foot.

I had no quality of life, because I was in pain all the time. When I started the treatment in the first two days I did not feel any more headaches. With the monthly follow up, adjusting as my body asked, I no longer felt any pain in anything and I returned to a normal life.

Today I am in the middle of the second phase, super anxious to go to the end and every month that passes I feel better and better.

Symptoms of mild hearing loss occurring in childhood often go unnoticed. It is vital the early detection of this deficiency.

Various physical and psychological activities of children and adolescents may be affected due to hearing impairment.

The conductive hearing loss resulting from Eustachian tube dysfunction INITIATED BY TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS is OFTEN NOT CONSIDERED.

It is vital the early detection of this deficiency.

There are two general types of hearing loss, conductive and sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss results from disruption in the passage of sound from the external ear to the oval window.

Anatomically, this pathway includes the ear canal, tympanic membrane, and ossicles. Such loss may be due to cerumen impaction, tympanic membrane perforation, otitis media, osteosclerosis , intraaural muscle dysfunction, or displacement of the ossicles by the malleolar ligament.

Sensorineural hearing loss results from otology abnormalities beyond the oval window. Such abnormalities may affect the sensory cells of the cochlea or the neural fibers of the 8th cranial nerve. Hearing loss with age (presbycusis) is an example. Eight cranial nerve tumors may also lead to such hearing loss.

Male patient, eleven years old, arrived to the clinic for consultation referringheadache, pain on the back of the head, shoulder pain, neck pain, hand numbness and tingling in hands and LIMITATION OF MOUTH OPENING.

The patient reports pain in the left ear and sensation of ear blockage especially on the left side. He also has tinnitus in both ears and DECREASE OF HEARING IN BOTH EARS.

Any hearing loss reported by the patient, must be evidenced by an audiometry.

Patient’s medical history: is relevant to this case the antecedent trauma on the chin at early childhood. It is also important to consider his recurrent infections of ear and throat and that when he was eight months old he had a severe pneumonia that required hospitalization.

Images of the patient’s habitual occlusion. Upper and lower oclusal view. Patient’s photos: frontal, profile and smiling on the day of consultation.

Patient’s initial panoramic radiograph

Patient temporomandibular joint laminography before treatment: we can observe the superior and posterior position of the left condylar process in the articular cavity when the jaw is in the position of maximum intercuspidation.

In the maximum opening position, we can observe the anterior angulation of the left articular processes.

Patient’s habitual image occlusion before treatment, in the consultation day.We may observe here an important overbite.

It is evident the lack of space for the correct positioning of the left maxillary canine.

Superior and lower oclusal view of the patient before treatment. It is evident the lack of space for the correct positioning of the left maxillary canine.

Patient’s lateral radiograph together with the profile image before treatment.

Retrognathic profile and rectification of the cervical spine.

MRI T1: Sagittal slice, left and right TMJ closed mouth before treatment.

We can observe anterior facets on the right and left mandibular heads.

In the right TMJ the disk is slightly anteriorly dislocated. The anterior dislocation is more evident on the left TMJ, with the head of the mandible backed on the retrodiscal zone.

MRI T1: Sagittal slice, left and right TMJ open mouth before treatment.

We can observe anterior facets on both mandibular heads.

Both mandibular condyles cannot translate, reducing mouth opening.

Initial kinesiographic record: loss of speed when the patient opens and closes his mouth. There is no coincidence between the opening and closing trajectories in the sagittal view of the record. Limited mouth opening as the patient can open only 32.9 mm.

Surface electromyography of the patient in habitual occlusion in which are measured:

Anterior right and left temporalis

Right and left masseter

Right and left digastrics

Right and left superior trapezius

Activation of the digastrics in closure, these muscles should only must be in activity along the opening movement

During the examination there was an activation of the right and left upper trapezius even when the patient was instructed to lower his shoulders.He had activated both trapezius throughout the examination.

The patient reports pain in the left ear and sensation of ear blockage, especially on the left side. He also has tinnitus and DECREASE OF HEARING IN BOTH EARS.

ANY HEARING LOSS REPORTED BY THE PATIENT MUST BE EVIDENCED BY AN AUDIOMETRY.

An audiogram is produced by using a relative measure of the patient hearing as compared with an established “normal “value. It is a graphic representation of auditory threshold responses that are obtained from testing a patient’s hearing with pure-tone stimuli. The parameters of the audiogram are frequency, as measured in cycles per second (HZ) and intensity, as measured in dB­­­­.

The first audiometry of the patient revealed a mild hearing loss in the left ear and a moderate hearing loss in his right ear.

Symptoms of mild hearing loss occurring in childhood often go unnoticed. It is vital the early detection of this deficiency.

Hearing loss is classified as mild, in which the ear is unable to detect sounds below 40 decibels which makes it difficult to understand human speech.

In moderate loss, the sounds below 70 decibels are not heard.

We recorded the mandibular rest position after electronic deprogramming, together with the information of the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to orient our decisions of the bite registration, for the three-dimensional construction of the DIO (intraoral device).

The patient has a pathological free space of 8.6 mm and 8 mm of mandibular retro position.

The degree of compression determinates de reaction of the patient.

The retrusion of the mandible, whether it is iatrogenically induced, or a result of malocclusion, often results in otalgia due to excessive compression of the neurovascular retrodiscal tissues. The patient’s impression is ear pain.

I informed the parents of the patient, that at this stage, I was only worried about the health of the patient, and focused on improving the functions, the symptoms and controlling the conductive hearing loss.

For this reason there is a need for an objective control by audiometry.

I explained that I would not make any orthodontic intervention at this stage to include in the arcade the canine that was misaligned and out of space. I told them that I would take care of it later and in this case I would not have the need to extract teeth.

The installed device is controlled through surface electromyography to evaluate the function.

Patient’s second audiometry shows normal thresholds in the left ear and a mild hearing loss in his right ear.

Comparing the first and second audiometry of the patient during treatment.

Thresholds normalization of the right ear and thresholds improvement of the left ear.

Structural lesions may produce functional changes which in turn increases the structural changes.

Structural and functional changes.

Even a decompressed joint, takes time to recover

Some structural lesions can be recovered, but OTHERS CANNOT.

Even a decompressed joint, takes time to recover

Some structural lesions can be recovered, but OTHERS CANNOT.

It takes time to stabilize the muscles during treatment, different patients, different ages and different pathologies.

Patient’s third audiometryshows NORMAL thresholds in the left ear and NORMAL thresholdsin his right ear.

Comparing the first, second and third audiometry of the patient during treatment.
Thresholds normalization in the right and left ear.

At this time with the normalization of the conductive hearing loss, the remission of symptoms and improvement of the images from the exams, we began the second phase through a three-dimensional orthodontics.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontic in the second stage of treatment of TMJ disorders in this particular patient. REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CASE WILL ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECOND STAGE.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontic in the second stage of treatment of TMJ disorders in this particular patient. REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CASE WILL ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECOND STAGE.

Patient’s lateral radiograph together with the profile image during treatment.

Aesthetic and not retrognathic profile as at the beginning of treatment.

There was not a recovery of the physiological lordosis, but there surely was an improvement of the cervical spine.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontic in the second stage of treatment of TMJ disorders in this particular patient. REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CASE WILL ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECOND STAGE.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontic in the second stage of treatment of TMJ disorders in this particular patient. REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CASE WILL ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECOND STAGE.

Removal of the DIO (intra oral device) at the current stage of the three-dimensional orthodontics.

Images without the DIO (intraoral device) and completion of the treatment of the three-dimensional orthodontic in neurophysiological occlusion.

Comparative images of the upper and lower oclusal views from the patient before and after completion of the first and the second phase of the neurophysiologic treatment.

The fourth audiometry of the patient after completion of the two phases of treatment maintains the normal thresholds in both the left ear and the right ear.

Comparative panoramic radiographs: before treatment and after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics.

Comparative of lateral radiographs of the patient: at the beginning of the treatment in habitual occlusion, after the completion of the three-dimensional orthodontic in neurophysiological occlusion and six years after the completion of treatment control.

Patient’s kinesiographic records comparison: before and after treatment.

The mouth opening of the patient improved from 32.9 mm to 38.9 mm and it also reached an excellent speed regarding mouth opening and closing.

Patient’s electromyography records comparison: before, during and after treatment.

Patient’s kinesiographic records after electronically mandibular deprogramming comparison: before treatment the habitual trajectory is not coincident with the neuromuscular trajectory.

After treatment the habitual trajectory is tridimensional coincident with the neuromuscular trajectory.

Comparing the first, second, third and forth audiometry of the patient.Thresholds normalization of right and left ear.

Various physical and psychological activities of children and adolescents may be affected due to hearing impairment. The conductive hearing loss resulting from Eustachian tube dysfunction INITIATED BY TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS is OFTEN NOT CONSIDERED.

It is vital the early detection of this deficiency.

When the patient ended all the treatment, and being still a teenager, he left the following testament:

My dentist referred me to the orthodontist because I had a crooked canine. So, after a panoramic radiograph she suspected that I could have a TMJ problem. Then she referred me to Porto Alegre to do a MRI, and from that exam it was found something that indicated a TMJ problem. So then I started the tratment with Dr. Lidia Yavich, that also investigated the tinnitus and my hearing problem.

When I was little I felt and hit the chin but my parents didn’t know that it could affect my TMJ.

I suffered a lot from an earache and sore throat. I had even scheduled an ear surgery but after six months of treatment it was no longer necessary to do it. Today I am doing well. I have a good hearing and I don’t have any more the tinnitus and the throat pain. I am happy with this treatment, thanks to God and to Dra. Lidia Yavich.

Here follows the testimony of the same patient seven years after the completion of the treatment:

Today, more than seven years after the end of the TMJ treatment with Dr. Lidia, and thanks to the God-given gifts to her, I haven’t been suffering any more with the earaches nor with the throat pain or the hearing loss. I had had, before the treatment, the indication to make an ear operation since I was loosing my hearing and that was not necessary with the TMJ treatment because during the treatment I was monitorated by exams that had proven that my hearing improved. Today I live a normal life, without having problems with those things from the past. I thanks the treatment done by Dr. Lidia which has healed me and improved my life.

I often observe the debate on etiology and therapeutics, especially in TMJ dysfunction discussions groups, which are integrated by patients and professionals. These groups are active not only in Brazil but in several countries and communities from around the world.

I hope this space will add, strengthen or clarify those discussions.

The professional who treats patients with TMJ pathology has to take into account, at the moment of studying the clinical case, the patient’s particularities and the anatomical structures that are involved and provoking pain and affliction to our patient.

Even if the professional is scrupulous, evolutions can be different from patient to patient. That is why the professional has to investigate carefully which are the structures that can improve or even heal and which are the ones that cannot improve or still which ones we do not know if can be improved in the process of treatment.

Recognizing what we do not know is perhaps more important than recognizing what we do know: and the communication of this understanding to the patient is essential.

When we start a treatment we must be certain of the structures we can meliorate, or even prevent of getting worse and we also must know which structures we DO NOT HAVE THE CONDITION TO MELIORATE and we certainly must communicate that to the patient. Within this framework, the most important thing is to investigate if we can improve the quality of life of the patient.

Female patient with 45 years old arrives to the clinic for consultation suffering from headache every day, also suffering from neck pain and pain in the back of the neck, pain in both temporomandibular joints and severe pain on the shoulders.

Pain is more intense on the left side.

The patient reports a sensation of plugged ears and hearing decrease which was confirmed by an audiometry that refers normal hearing at 4KHZ and a severe sensorineural hearing loss at 6 KHZ and moderate at 8 KHz in the right ear.

The patient reports that she wakes up with pain in the teeth, because of clenching.

Patient’s upper and lower oclusal view before treatment. Note the wear of the lower anterior teeth. The patient states that have made maxillary anterior teeth reconstruction with resin due to attrition caused by bruxism.

Sagittal slice of the left open TMJ. THE DISC REDUCES WHEN THE MOUTH OPENS.

Frontal slice of the right and left temporomandibular joints, closed mouth.Note the cortical discontinuity on the right side already registered in the sagittal sections of thesame side. The left side shows a medial disc deviation.

The masticatory muscles of the patientwere electronically deprogrammed and a DIO (intraoral device) was constructed in neurophysiological position. In other publications computerized kinesiographic methods were mentioned.

In occlusion most often the healthy or pathological condition of the inter-oclusal space is not objectively considered. In this case the pathological free space of the patient is almost 7, 4 mm

With this data and ALWAYS WITH THE INFORMATION OF THE IMAGES OBTAINED WITH THE MRI, we built a DIO (intraoral device) to keep the three-dimensionally recorded position.

One year after the beginning of neurophysiological treatment, the patient had to interrupt the treatment to undergo a spine surgery.

The patient returned 10 months after the interval, recovered from the intervention. The patient was then again documented to assess any changes that might have happened during the interruption and the spine surgery.

In this particular case even WITHOUT DISC RECAPTURE (CONDITION THAT WAS EXPLAINED IN THE DIAGNOSIS) the patient can pass into the second phase,always taking into account that we should protect the joint during the night and during physical activity.

Each case is unique and the decision to move to a second phase also needs an individualized study.

It was decided to begin the SECOND PHASE of treatment to remove the DIO (intraoral device), keeping the neurophysiological occlusion.

In the second phase, in this case the three-dimensional orthodonticthe patient is monitored and electronically deprogrammed. The device is often recalibrated or replaced, to maintain the position obtained in the first phase.

In the second phase, in this case the three-dimensional orthodonticthe patient is monitored and electronically deprogrammed.The device is often recalibrated or replaced, to maintain the position obtained in the first phase.

In this sequence the patient is still with the DIO (intraoral device) in the mouth.

The second phase is here understood as the three- dimensional orthodontics, restorative, prosthetic procedures in accordance with each clinical case in order to remove the DIO, while maintaining the neurophysiological position obtained in the first phase.

Patient’s upper and lower oclusal views after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics.

Patient’s right and left temporomandibular joints laminography in closed and open mouth in neurophysiological position after finalization of the treatment.

Patient’s panoramic radiograph in neurophysiological occlusion in the completion of treatment. The tooth 38 that was in a horizontal and impacted position was extracted since the patient had no more symptoms of joint pain.

Patient’s lateral radiograph in neurophysiological occlusion in the completion of the second phase of neurophysiological treatment.

Temporomandibular joints MRI after de finalization of the second phase.

We must remember that this is a patient with degenerative processes and impossibility of recapture of the right TMJ disc, the left disk is so damaged that it does not fulfill its function.

The patient no longer has symptoms.

The final MRI shows no worsening of the situation and in the frontal slice it shows a better three-dimensional location of the mandibular condyle and cortical improvement.

Patient’s lateral comparative radiographs: at the beginning of treatment in habitual occlusion, during treatment after the spine surgery interruption with the DIO (intraoral device) in neurophysiological occlusion and after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics in neurophysiological occlusion.

Comparative records of mandibular rest position at the beginning of the treatment to build the DIO (intraoral device), and at the end of the second phase of the treatment (tridimensional orthodontics) to build a DIO (intraoral device) for night use.

Notice that in the beginning of the treatment the patient had a pathological interocclusal space of 7.4mm, and in the record at the end of the second phase for the nocturne DIO the patient has 3.3mm of free interocclusal space.

We have to take into account that the free interocclusal space IS A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE, AND WHEN WE HAVE STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE JOINTS, THE SPACE IS NOT EQUAL ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT SIDE.

Patient’s comparative profil postural images: at the beginning of treatment in habitual occlusion, during treatment after the spine surgery and treatment interruption with the DIO (intraoral device) in neurophysiological occlusion and after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics in neurophysiological occlusion.

Patient’s frontal comparative postural images: at the beginning of treatment in habitual occlusion, during treatment after the spine surgery and treatment interruption with the DIO (intraoral device) in neurophysiological occlusion and after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics in neurophysiological occlusion.

I had made several appointments with specialists, such as otorhinolaryngologist, dentists and maxilo-facial surgeons. However, all of them were without success and that is when I looked for Dr. Lidia to whom I reported the following symptoms.

I used to wake up every day with a lot of pain on the left side, both in the head and neck and I used to feel a rigidity on the neck and shoulder. In that time I used to take painkillers every single day in the morning. I also used to suffer of a serious problem of bruxism and because of that I wore out my front teeth, both the upper and lower teeth, and I had to restore them. I used to feel a lot of pain from the tremendous pressure that I used to make between the lower and upper part of my mouth. Another symptom was the high sensitivity on the teeth when I drank cold liquids. I felt as my ears were always blocked in such a way that my hearing decreased. I also used to hear a noise, especially on the left side, which sounded like a continuous whistle.

I also told the doctor that when I was a child I was hit with a brick, in the middle of a child’s play.

After reporting all that she asked me to make many exams and many of them were made in the MY Clinic and finally she told me that I had a problem in the TMJ. I started a treatment with her in 2011. I started to use an acrylic splint on my lower teeth day and night, all the time, taking it of only for its hygiene.

The pain that I used to feel so much decreased and in short time I did not feel it any more. Doctor Lidia had to adjust the orthotic monthly, making exams in her clinic until it reached the optimal height. On the next year from when I started the treatment I had to interrupt it for 8 or 10 months because I had to make a column surgery but I returned to the treatment as soon as I was well enough. I kept on treatment for one more year and after that I started the second part of the treatment with braces.

At the time that the treatment ended I did not need to use any more braces nor the full time orthotic. Today I need to use the orthotic only when I do physical activities and to sleep. I never again felt the horrible pain that I used to feel. I also never felt again the sensation of having blocked ears and happily the noise reduced. Today I am very happy that I do not have to take daily painkillers and that I do not have any pain. I am very grateful to doctor Lidia because she discovered and solved my problem.

For the interested coleagues in this training: the course starts at the September 1st.
Please write to the email for more informations: lidiayavich@gmail ou lidiayavich@clinicamy.com.br
+55 5130612237 +55 5133322124 This course will be given in Portuguese

Initial occlusion of the patient before treatment.Superior and inferior occlusal view of the patient before treatment.

Wear in the upper and lower anterior sector

Surface electromyography, dynamic record in habitual occlusion. We ask to the patient to open the mouth, to close the mouth, to bite strong and to swallow. In this patient’s electromyography record we observe little activity in the masseters and anterior temporalis. We can also observe asymmetry between the right and left temporalis. It is obvious that the masseters have a loss of activity in the middle of the maximal occlusion.

Patient’s initial panoramic radiograph before treatment.

TMJ laminography of the patient before treatment in habitual occlusion and opening. Asymmetry of the mandibular heads. Superior and posterior position of the articular process of the right side in the joint cavity, provoking a retrodiscal compression.

We observe asymmetry between the left and right mandibular heads.

Alteration of the axis of the right mandibular condyle.

Patient´s testimony:

When I was 5 years old, while I was playing in the pre school class interval I had a traumatism.

A seesawhit my chinwhen I was playing with another girl. They put ice on my chin to reduce the swelling. There was no much pain or apparent fracture.

I did not perform medical tests.

I remember another traumatism I had when I was 13 years old, I slipped on the sidewalk and felt hitting my chin on the ground, I FRACTURED THE UPPER INCISORS, (they have resin)

Sometimes I wake up and I feel that I´m biting and moving my mandible.

If I don´t use the bruxism splint to sleep I brake the resin of my teeth.

The splint protects the resin, BUT DOESN´T ALLIVIATE THE PAIN.

The website of the Clinica MY www.clinicamy.com.br has the links for both articles. . Alterações na Orientação do Côndilo Mandibular Devido a Traumatismos na Primeira Infância (Portuguese). Clinic case presented in the 4th edition of the Brazilian Journal of TMJ, occlusion and Orofacial Pain, October/ December 2001.

Structural modifications of the mandibular condylar process as one of the sequels of traumatism in infancy

Article published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillary Diseases, volume 3, issue 2, July/December de 2014.

Patient’s masticatory muscles were electronically deprogrammed and a bite in a neurophysiological position was registered using a jaw tracker.For the bite registration record we always use the information of the images obtained and the planned goals for each individual case.

The patient presented a free way pathological space of 6 mm and a retro-position of 2,8mm

A DIO (Intraoral Device) was constructed in a neurophysiological position.

The website of the Clinica MY www.clinicamy.com.br has the link for the article Neuromuscular Principles in Dentistry, Habitual Trajectory coincident with the Neuromuscular Trajectory.

Patient’s electromyography record with the DIO ( intraoral device) constructed in neurophysiological position). Observe the excellent muscle activity with the device.

Patient’s electromyography records comparison: the first in habitual occlusion and the second with the intraoral device in neurophysiological position. In the lower record the masseters present excellent activity with the device, even more if we compare the initial record where the masseters lose activity in the middle of the maximal occlusion.

Some MRI selected slices : before treatment and after de FIRST PHASE.

We need to be aware of the planned goals for this patient with joint hypermobility and a sequel of traumatism in infancy where we can see low signal in the head of the mandible bone marrow.

Image 3: Improvement of the bone marrow signal and positive remodeling of the condylar posterior surface.

Image 4 : Positive remodeling of the superior pole and posterior surface of the head of the mandible.

We began assembling the upper and lower braces for a tridimensional orthodontics, maintaining the DIO (intraoral device)

A tridimensional orthodontics needs to maintain the tridimensional mandible position in balance with its osseous and muscular planes obtained in the FIRST PHASE, and always when possible it has the purpose to maintain the temporomandibular joint in a harmonious relation with the mandibular fossa as well as the disk in a correct position.

Patient’s lateral radiograph and cervical spine in the beginning of the 2 PHASE. Comparative lateral radiograph an cervical spine of the patient: before the FIRST PHASE and in the beginning of the SECOND PHASE

In this image there is no recovery of the lordosis but yes, an improvement of the mild curvature inversion at C4.

Tridimensional orthodontics sequence in the second phase of TMJ pathologies treatment, in this specific patient.

REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CASE WILL ALLOW YOU TO ADVANCE TO A SECOND PHASE.

Active eruption in the tridimensional orthodontics. Active eruption in the tridimensional orthodontics. Continuation of the tridimensional orthodontics with sequence of intraoral devices New DIO (intraoral device) for the continuation of the tridimensional orthodontics. Removal of the DIO ( intraoral device) Image without the intraoral device. Tridimensional orthodontics treatment finalization in neurophysiological occlusion. Patient’s occlusion image in neurphysiological occlusion after treatment finalization. Comparison with the initial occlusion image. Patient’s electromyography records comparison: the first in habitual occlusion before the FIRST PHASE and the second AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS TREATMENT FINALIZATION. The masseters present excellent activity comparing with the initial record where the masseters lose activity in the middle of the maximal occlusion. Also the masseters present better potency than the temporalis. Patient’s lateral and cervical spine comparative radiograph: before the FIRST PHASE and in theTRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION.

Notice the cervical lordosis improvement.

Patient’s comparative laminography: initial in habitual occlusion where we can observe the retro position of the mandible heads, and the tridimensional orthodontics finalization laminography.

Patient’s panoramic control radiograph after the TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS finalization. Left TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and left TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION. Left TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and left TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION. Left TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and left TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION.Right TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and right TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION. Right TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and right TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION.

Right TMJ, closed mouth before treatment and right TMJ, closed mouth 4 YEARS AFTER THE TRIDIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS FINALIZATION.

TMJ Pathologies Treatment: first and second phase (tridimensional orthodontics) in a hypermobile joint patient with low signal in the head of the mandible bone marrow. Case report.